How to 3D print a multi-color QR code in Bambu Studio
Design your QR code, download the 3MF with two colors baked in, open it in Bambu Studio, and let the AMS handle the filament changes. This guide walks through every step for the A1, P1S, X1C and H2D.
What you need
- A Bambu Lab 3D printer — A1, A1 mini, P1P, P1S, X1C, X1E or H2D. Any model that accepts a 3MF works.
- An AMS or AMS Lite — needed to swap filaments automatically. Not strictly required (see single-extruder note at the end), but this guide assumes you have one.
- Two spools of filament in contrasting colors. Matte PLA reads best under indoor lighting; glossy or silk filament can reflect enough to confuse phone cameras.
- Bambu Studio updated to the latest version.
- A link, Wi-Fi credentials, or plain text you want to encode.
Step 1 — Design your QR code
Open qr3dmaker.com and paste your link into the input field. Pick two colors that give real contrast (a light base with a dark code is the safest combination), then choose an object shape:
- Desk stand — for restaurant menus, "leave us a review" cards, event stands.
- Keychain — event giveaways, business-card alternatives.
- Wall plaque — for Wi-Fi codes at rentals, offices or shops.
The live preview shows exactly what your printed object will look like. The tool warns you in real time if the two colors are too similar, if the code is lighter than the base (some older phones dislike that), or if any module would print smaller than about 1.5 mm.
Step 2 — Download the 3MF
Click Download 3D file. You get a single .3mf that contains two solid meshes (the base plate and the raised code) with the two colors you picked already assigned as separate filaments. Nothing to configure manually inside — the whole assembly is pre-aligned and pre-colored.
Step 3 — Open the 3MF in Bambu Studio
Drag the file into Bambu Studio, or use File → Open Project. You will see the object load with two filaments listed on the right panel — filament 1 for the base plate, filament 2 for the raised code and text. The preview shows the object in its real two-tone colors. Do not "merge" or "flatten" the parts, and do not delete the second filament assignment.
Step 4 — Match the AMS slots
Load your two spools in the AMS. In Bambu Studio, click each filament slot on the right panel and make sure:
- The filament type matches what is actually loaded (PLA Matte, PLA Basic, PETG, etc.).
- The color assigned to filament 1 corresponds to your base (light color), and filament 2 to the code (dark color).
- If Bambu Studio flips the assignment automatically, use the small color swatch next to each filament to swap them.
On the P1S / X1C / H2D with the AMS 4-slot, use any two slots — Bambu Studio maps by slot number. On the A1 with AMS Lite, the four external spools each map to a slot number the same way.
Step 5 — Slice and print
Use the default profile for your printer and the filament type you loaded. The defaults from Bambu Studio produce a great result for this object; no special tuning is required. Suggested overrides only if you want to fine-tune:
- Layer height: 0.16–0.20 mm. Finer layers make edges crisper but do not affect scannability.
- Infill: 15–20% grid or gyroid. The base plate is thick enough that low infill is fine.
- Supports: none. Every object from the tool is designed to sit flat on the plate with no overhangs.
- Plate: textured PEI (Bambu default) for a nice matte finish on the bottom of the base.
Slice, send to the printer, and let the AMS handle the color transitions automatically at the layer where the code starts.
Step 6 — Verify it scans
Once the print is done, cool the plate and pop the object off. Scan the QR with two or three different phones (iPhone Camera, Google Lens, any old Android) from about 20–30 cm. If the preview in Bambu Studio showed both colors clearly, the printed object will scan. Install it in its final spot.
Troubleshooting
Color bleeding on the raised code edges
Bambu Studio purges filament between color changes using a "flush tower" and a small purge into the object's infill. If you see the darker filament tint the lighter base, increase Flushing volume in the print settings, or add a wider prime tower. The 3MF from QR3D Maker uses only one color change per layer where the code sits, so purging cost is minimal.
The two colors look correct on screen but wrong on the print
You probably swapped the filament assignments — filament 1 should be your base color. Double-check the swatch order in the slicer against your physical AMS slots. Bambu Studio remembers the last mapping between slots and filaments per project.
The QR does not scan after printing
Three checks in order: (1) is the contrast between the two colors strong under the light where you will install it? (2) is each module at least 1.5 mm wide? (3) is the base lighter than the code, and are you scanning from 20–30 cm? If you fail all three, redesign at qr3dmaker.com with a shorter URL (fewer modules, larger each one) and a stronger color contrast.
I have a single-extruder Bambu (A1 without AMS)
You can still print the 3MF. In Bambu Studio, add a "Filament change" (M600) at the Z height where the code layer begins — the tool's read-me tells you that height. The printer will pause and prompt you to swap the filament manually, then resume automatically.
Related
Bambu Studio QR code — FAQ
Do I need the AMS to print a two-color QR?
The AMS makes it hands-off. Without it, you can still print the same 3MF on a single-extruder Bambu by adding a filament-change command at the code's start height — the printer pauses so you can swap the spool manually.
Which Bambu printer works best for a QR3D print?
Any Bambu with an AMS works equally well. The P1S and X1C are the most common in the maker community; the A1 mini + AMS Lite is the cheapest entry point; the H2D and X1E work fine but are overkill for a small QR object.
How much filament does one QR print use?
Between 10 g and 40 g depending on the object shape you picked (keychain ≈ 10 g, desk stand ≈ 20 g, wall plaque ≈ 40 g). Cost per unit is well below one dollar in filament.
Can I print several QR codes at once on the same plate?
Yes. Drop multiple 3MFs onto the Bambu Studio plate and arrange them; the AMS purge tower stays a single tower shared across all objects, so per-object flushing overhead drops with quantity.
What filament type is recommended?
Matte PLA reads best under indoor lighting; PETG works too. Avoid glossy silk PLA in direct sun — the highlights can reflect enough to confuse phone cameras.